TEMPORAL MANAGEMENT OF FLIGHT STRIPS IN EN-ROUTE AIR-TRAFFIC-CONTROL - A FULL-SCOPE SIMULATION TEST ON TASK ANALYSES ASSUMPTIONS

In en route air traffic control, task analyses assume that the plannin g controller detects potential problems to alleviate the radar control ler's workload. Ten expert controllers were involved in a full-scope s imulation study, and displacements of flight strips were analyzed as a function of the controller and as a function of the role these motor acts have in indicating problem detection, monitoring the ongoing reso lution, or sending the aircraft to other control positions. Task analy sis assumptions related to the ongoing resolution and to the end of pr oblems were confirmed. But contrary to task analysis assumptions, resu lts reveal that conflict situations are detected by the radar controll er. In line with previous field observations, this striking result rai ses a serious problem about the validity of the putative anticipatory role attributed to the planning controller.